Translator: Nox

Chapter 10

While living at my uncle’s house, I always carried stomach medicine with me. Diarrhea and constipation struck without warning, gas and abdominal pain were everyday occurrences, so I simply accepted them as part of life.

But after coming to the monastery, aside from the first few days, I felt no stomach discomfort whatsoever.

‘Why is that? Is it really because this place is blessed by God?’

I wasn’t one to believe in miracles, but I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of doubt.

Thinking deeper, I realized that the food here was completely different from what I’d eaten while living in the capital.

Back then, I barely ate two meals a day at most, and if Bella upset me, I’d skip meals entirely. Then some days, I’d binge to make up for it.

‘I ate a lot of sweet, greasy food.’

Even so, the stomach issues that followed every meal kept me from gaining weight. Even when I wanted to eat lightly, my aunt would insist, “You have to eat well!” and make sure meat dishes were served at every meal.

At first, I thought she was doing it out of care for me, but as time passed, I began to suspect that wasn’t the case.

Once, I got seriously ill after eating roast pork, yet pork roast kept appearing on Harriet’s table afterward.

‘She probably doesn’t even remember that it made me sick.’

Unpleasant experiences with food didn’t end there.

When I said a certain tea seemed to worsen my rashes, instead of concern, I got scolded for whining. There were times I was forced to eat foods I hated.

If I said Bella seemed oddly pleased watching me struggle, would that be thinking too far?

‘Come to think of it, I nearly suffocated after eating shellfish once.’

My lips and throat swelled so badly that I was terrified.

When I cautiously suggested food might be the cause, my uncle reacted as if I’d personally attacked him.

“This food made you sick? Everyone else is fine, but you’re the problem. Don’t make a fuss for no reason.”

After that, I couldn’t bring it up again.

Whenever something made my throat swell, I’d quietly set down my fork and rush to the bathroom to vomit it up.

But none of that happened at the monastery.

“Dry bread, vegetables, honey, milk, cheese, wine, fruit, occasionally ham…”

We hardly ever ate meat here, meals were always at set times, and afterward, we did strenuous physical labor. There was no fixed time for tea, and sweet desserts were unthinkable.

But since I never got sick, I didn’t miss the monastery’s food at all.

“I guess I need to eat much more plainly and move a lot more than I thought.”

Harriet smiled faintly, having gained a new realization.

As summer approached, high society buzzed with large and small events featuring cold drinks and cucumber sandwiches. The nobility’s schedules were packed through July and August, and those who received invitations late had to pull every string just to snag one.

In the midst of this frenzy, John burst into the house clutching something, shouting loudly for Bella.

“Bella! Bella, where are you?”

“Dad, you scared me! What’s going on?”

Bella leaned over the second-floor railing with an irritated expression, but John asked with an excited face instead of explaining. “Bella! Do you have plans next Wednesday?”

“Yes, I was going boating in Torres Park with friends…”

“Cancel it.”

“What?”

Bella furrowed her brow at the one-sided command, but John proudly waved what he held and shouted, “I got an invitation to the Kingsley Viscountcy party! Do you know who’s coming?”

“If you’re this excited about the Kingsley Viscountcy party… does that mean the Duke of Kailas will be attending?”

“As expected of my clever daughter!”

John bounded up the stairs and hugged Bella tightly.

“Dad! You’re messing up my hair.”

“Oh, sorry. I got too carried away.”

Bella smiled faintly and snatched the invitation from his hand. The elegant card invited them to a party at the Kingsley estate next Wednesday.

“Where did you get this?”

“Well, the other day at the gentlemen’s club, I casually complained to Count Arens. I said it was embarrassing to show my face after the victory banquet since I hadn’t gotten a single proper invitation.”

“Count Arens? That kind old gentleman?”

“Yes! Then today, he said it was too hot to go and gave me this invitation to pass on instead.”

John strutted about, pleased at having impressed the bigwigs. Bella slipped the invitation back into its envelope with a smile.

“We don’t have much time, so the dress is fine. But buy me a matching earring and necklace set from the jewelry box.”

“Uh, but don’t you already have plenty of good ones?”

“Dad, I need to capture the Duke of Kailas’s heart! He’ll surely wear that ruby brooch again, so I have to match with rubies too. The set I have has gems that are too small.”

A proper ruby set would cost at least 20,000 dirams. John shook his head, trying to soothe her.

“You don’t need that. You’ll stand out plenty, Bella.”

“Dad. Standing out is just the beginning. You have to think long-term.”

It didn’t work on her at all.

As John searched for an escape, Bella grabbed his sleeve and added, “This time, I’ll apologize for the ruby brooch incident and strike up a conversation. If I’m wearing rubies too, it’ll create a ‘ruby connection’ between us.”

“Hmm…”

“Then, whenever he sees rubies later, he’ll naturally think of me. People’s hearts melt through these little connections.”

Bella didn’t just rely on her beauty to steal a man’s heart. She instinctively knew how to make a man fall in love.

“Men are weak to visual stimuli. And it doesn’t take much to make them believe in ‘fate.’ A beautiful woman he met by chance over his father’s heirloom, appearing adorned in red rubies—that’s more than enough to make him fall in love.”

Hearing it laid out, even John was subtly convinced and slowly nodded.

“And since I pulled strings so the Duke of Kailas wouldn’t demand compensation, you can do this much for me, right?”

“That was because of you?”

“Of course! He let it slide because I begged so earnestly. You don’t think he did it because he likes you or Harriet, do you?”

John burst into laughter at that. Bella was truly his daughter. Her way with words was no joke.

And she wasn’t wrong. Unless he’d been bewitched by her beauty, there was no reason for Cedric to let it go so easily.

John rolled his eyes, doing mental calculations.

‘If Bella really becomes the Duke of Kailas’s lover…!’

If that happened, what was 20,000 dirams? Bella would surely repay it with interest on the investment.

“Alright, alright! We don’t have much time, so go to the jewelers with your mother right now!”

“Thanks, Dad!”

In the end, Bella got her hands on the 25,000-diram ruby earring and necklace set she’d had her eye on.

Even Aston, who grumbled about not getting a raise in his allowance, had to admit the jewels suited Bella perfectly.

Early summer evenings sometimes brought cool breezes, and the sunsets were long and romantic.

Women’s dresses grew more revealing, and men could unbutton a few shirt buttons under the excuse of liquor without anyone batting an eye. This was why people preferred summer parties over winter ones.

Add superb food and drink, plus esteemed guests, and the party would be the talk of the town for days.

‘Like tonight’s party.’ Benedict Kingsley smiled to himself as he looked down at the bustling hall full of people.

“When is Cedric arriving?”

His son Albert approached quietly and asked.

“Soon, I expect. The star always arrives late.”

“It’s our house party—why is he the star?”

“Albert.”

Benedict placed a hand on Albert’s shoulder.

“Sometimes you have to humble yourself until you achieve your goals. If we can snag even one of the business rights he holds, what’s the harm in treating him like an honored guest? It doesn’t cost us anything.”

“That’s what frustrates me! That kid’s a duke? Acting like royalty he’s so used to being treated like!”

Albert clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Cedric was two years younger than him, yet he’d already inherited his dukedom and was hailed as a war hero. Meanwhile, Albert would remain the Kingsley viscountcy heir for years to come.

In moments like this, Albert couldn’t stop thinking about what if his uncle had remained the second son of the viscountcy.

Then, Cedric would be the one flattering and fawning now.

“Father and Uncle look exactly alike, but one married a princess and became a duke, while the other…!”

“Albert!”

At his father’s displeased look, Albert quickly shut his mouth.